Rust-preventing plug for bores of firearms



R. c. HOARD 2,594,778

RUST-PREVENTING PLUG FOR BORES OF FIREARMS Filed April 9, 1948 April 29, 1952 INVENTOR. C. #0420,

BY W/Wmwz W ATTORNEYS sorb all moisture entering Patented Apr. 29,, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RUST-PREVENTING PLUG FOR BORES OF FIREARMS Roy 0. Hoard, Edinburg, Tex. Application April 9, 1948, Serial No. 19,995 3 Claims. (Cl. 42-4) My invention relates to means for preventing the rusting of the bores of firearms, and more particularly to a plug adapted to be inserted in one end of the bore of the firearm for protecting the interior surface of the bore of the "firearm. As is well known, the interior surface of a firearm bore when not used for long periods usually accumulates a coating of rust, whereby the accuracy of the firearm is materially affected. To prevent such rust, it is common practice to coat the interior of a bore with oil or grease. However, this has the objection that it must be cleaned out before the gun is fired to avoid the formation of dangerous pressure incident to fir- With the foregoing in view, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved means for preventing the formation of rust in the bores of firearms.

A further object is to provide improved means for preventing the formation of rust in the bores of firearms which avoids the use of greases or other lubricants.

A further object is to provide improved means for preventing the formation of rust in the bores of firearms which comprises means for absorbing all moisture entering the bore of a firearm before the same can oxidize the interior surface of the bore.

A further object is to provide a novel means for preventing the accumulation of rust in the bores of firearms which comprises mounting a body of desiccant in the bore of a firearm to ab- I therein.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, the combination and arrangement of the several parts thereof, and will be readily understood by those skilled in the art upon reference to the attached drawing in connection with the following specification, wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of the device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view thereof;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the barrel of a firearm showing the device according to the invention'applied thereto.

Referring specifically to the drawing, nwherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views thereof, and referring at first to Figure 3, lll'designates' the stock of any suitable firearm, and H the barrel there- I is preferably substantially filled for. The barrel II is formed with the usual rifled bore 12, the rear end of which is enlarged to form the usual firing chamber 13. In using the device according to the invention, it is preferred that the forward end of the barrel ll be closed by any suitable plug, such as a cork 14.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2 in connection with Figure 3, the device according to the invention comprises a hollow plug l5 which preferably comprises a dummy cartridge which includes a hollow bullet l6 and a hollow shell case 1 8. Preferably, the shell case [8 is an empty shell case of a size adapted to be used with the firearm in question. The bullet I6 is hollow and the forward conical end thereof is formed with a plurality of vents I'I therein providing communication with the interior of the bore l2 of the firearm when the plug I5 is inserted in the firing chamber 13. The shell case [8 is likewise hollow and the usual primer is removed to provide a vent l9 opening rearwardly of the firing chamber l3. The interior of the shell case l8 with a desiccant or other body of moisture-absorbing material. A satisfactory desiccant I have found to be silica gel. Such material is porous to permit the passage of air through the vents I9, the body of desiccant 20 and the vents l1. Thus, as air is drawn into or expelled from the interior of the bore 12, it necessarily passes through the body of desiccant 20 and all moisture contained therein is removed in a well known manner. While I have specified silica jel as the desiccant capable of performing the desired function, it is to be understood that any suitable desiccant may be used instead.

An advantage of forming the plug l5 of a dummy cartridge of the type used with the firearm is that it has a close fit in the firing chamber of the piece and any quantity of such shell cases are readily available to an owner of such firearm. Moreover, any steel-jacketed bullet may be readily hollowed out to form the bullet I6 merely by forming an appropriate number of vents l1 in the nose thereof.

While I have shown and described what is now thought to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of other forms and expressions. Consequently, I do not limit myself to the precise structure shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. The combination with a firearm including a barrel formed with a bore and a firing chamber,

of a dummy cartridge insertable in said firing chamber, said cartridge including a hollow bullet and a hollow shell case, said bullet being formed with at least one vent communicating with the interior of said bore, said shell case being formed with at least one vent opening outwardly of said firing chamber, and a porous body of moistureabsorbing material in said shell case, and a plug closing the nozzle end of said bore.

2. The combination with a firearm including a barrel formed with a bore and a firing chamber, of a dummy cartridge insertable in said firing chamber, said cartridge including a hollow bullet and a hollow shell case, said bullet being formed with at least one vent communicating with the interior oi said bore, said shell case being formed with at least one vent opening outwardly of said firing chamber, and a body of silica gel in said shell case, and a plug closing the muzzle end of said bore.

3. The combination with a firearm barrel having a bore extending therethrough and a firing chamber at one end of said bore, of corrosion inhibiting means comprising a dummy cartridge inserted in said firing chamber and including a hollow bullet provided with at least one vent opening therein communicating with the interior of said bore, a hollow shell case receiving said bullet at one end and having in its end remote from said bullet a restricted vent opening communicating with the atmosphere exteriorly of said bore, and a body of moisture absorbing ma terial in said shell case, and a plug closing the end of said bore remote from said firing chamber.

ROY C. HOARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Lockwood Mar. 22, 1949 

